Strasbourg, 05/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European parliament approved, by 365 votes for, 145 against and 40 abstentions, the framework agreement on relations between the Parliament and European Commission that had been modified for one aspect, last week, following remarks by the Council (see EUROPE of 3 July, page 13 and 10 July page 14). This framework agreement, which resolves the various aspects of relations between the two institutions (participation of Commissioners in EP meetings, transmission of documents, etc.) was underlined by Romano Prodi and Nicole Fontaine on a statement made immediately after the vote.
During the short debate, most of the political group Presidents welcomed the concluding of this agreement. The German Christian democrat Hans-Gert Pottering said that the EPP/DE group believes that it marks "considerable progress in relations between the two institutions," enables for "a more effective parliamentary control" and constitutes a sound basis for the deepening of democracy and transparency. The Spaniard Enrique Baron brought the support of the ESP group, while noting that the Parliament should adopt its regulation as a result. "It would be a good thing if the Council also accepted to adopt a code of good conduct vis-à-vis the Parliament," he added. While recognising the improvements brought by the agreement, Patrick Cox (Ireland) expressed the reservations held by certain members of the ELDR group notably with regard to the restriction brought to bear on rapporteurs access to documents. On behalf off the V/ALE group, the Finn Heidi Hautala recognised the improvements obtained by the Parliament with regard to its implications in multilateral agreement negotiations or still in the context of the IGC, though she also expressed fears over access to documents. "There is nothing that may escape transparency," she asserted. The German Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann brought the support of the GUE/NGL group to this agreement, though not without criticising the Council's attitude. Gerard Collins (Ireland) approved the agreement on behalf of the UEN group and the Italian Radical Gianfranco Dell'Alba did the same, feeling that the Council's criticisms demonstrate the importance of this text. The Dane Jens-Peter Binde desired, on behalf of the EDD, new negotiations and improvements. Furthermore, Mr. Bonde asked for the postponing of the vote and the returning of the draft agreement to the EP's Legal Affairs Committee. This position received the support of the V/ALE group and Mrs. Hautala reiterated that her group could not accept the way in which the Council infiltrated itself into the relations between the EP and Commission. The call for the postponement of the vote was rejected by 210 votes for, 314 against and 30 abstentions.
Mrs. Fontaine and Mr. Prodi underlined meaning and repercussions of agreement
For Mrs. Fontaine and Mr. Prodi, "the framework agreement enables the European parliament to fully exercise its powers of democratic control and consolidate its role of legislative authority. The respect of the European Commission's right to initiative and the full use of its functions of management and implementation." The two Presidents insist on the 'political and innovative character of this text that, at a time where the European Union tackles important deadlines, demonstrates that the Parliament and the Commission intend to work together to face the EU's present and future challenges.